Sexual and social networks, venue attendance, and HIV risk among young men who have sex with men.

Objective: This study used a Social network analysis (SNA) approach to describe HIV transmission and venue affiliations among social and sexual networks of young men who have sex with men (YMSM) in Houston, TX.

Methods: A total of 34 YMSM indices aged 18-23 years and 23 of their network members were interviewed about their social and sexual networks and venues at which they met and spent time.

Results: Participants reported information on 220 friends (mean age = 25.

Pregnant Adolescents As Perpetrators and Victims of Intimate Partner Violence.

The role of pregnant adolescents as perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV) is not well understood. Socioecological factors associated with IPV (physical assault and injury, and psychological aggression) perpetrated by pregnant adolescents and the association between IPV and attitudes toward the use of physical punishment to discipline children were examined among 246 pregnant adolescents. Pregnant adolescents were more likely to report perpetrating both physical assault (24%) and psychological aggression (52.

Integrating Routine HIV Testing into Family Planning Clinics That Treat Adolescents and Young Adults.

Objective: Adolescents and young adults remain at high risk for new HIV infections and for unknowingly transmitting the virus to others. Yet, they have demonstrated low rates of testing due to barriers such as stigma and difficulty accessing testing services. Few existing programs have successfully integrated family planning and HIV care services to improve testing and diagnosis rates among young adults and adolescents, particularly those of minority groups.

Choice of Postpartum Contraception: Factors Predisposing Pregnant Adolescents to Choose Less Effective Methods Over Long-Acting Reversible Contraception.

Purpose: The purposes were to determine contraceptive methods pregnant adolescents intend to use postpartum and to understand factors that predispose intention to use less effective birth control than long-acting reversible contraception (LARC).

Methods: Participants were 247 pregnant minority adolescents in a prenatal program. Intention was assessed by asking "Which of the following methods of preventing pregnancy do you intend to use after you deliver?" Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to determine factors associated with intent to use nonhormonal (NH) contraception (male/female condoms, abstinence, withdrawal and no method) or short-/medium-acting hormonal (SMH) contraception (birth control pill, patch, vaginal ring, injectable medroxyprogesterone acetate) compared with LARC (implant and intrauterine device) postpartum.

A Socioecological Framework to Assessing Depression Among Pregnant Teens.

To examine individual, interpersonal, family, and community correlates associated with moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms among pregnant adolescents. A total of 249 primarily African American and Hispanic pregnant adolescents ages 15-18 years were recruited into either an intervention group utilizing Centering Pregnancy prenatal care and case management, or to a comparison group receiving case management only. Moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms were defined as a score ≥16 on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D).

Reproductive health professionals' adoption of emerging technologies for health promotion.

The purpose of this study was to assess reproductive health professionals' familiarity with and use of various electronic technologies to support health promotion. The study also examined the relationship between demographic characteristics and attitudes and beliefs of the effectiveness of new technologies and perceived barriers for usage. A total of 165 reproductive health professionals at two conferences related to reproductive health in the United States completed the study survey.

Talk with Tiff: teen's inquiries to a sexual health website.

Because of its availability, anonymity, and low cost of access, the Internet is an increasingly common way for adolescents to find information about sensitive issues. Sexual health website question portals are an important way for adolescents to seek personalized information tailored to their individualized needs. Few studies have examined the content within anonymous e-mails sent to these question portals.

Access to sexual and reproductive health care services: young men's perspectives.

This study aimed to identify health issues that affect young men and the barriers they experience in accessing care. Participants were 48 minority men 18-28 years old, distributed among 9 focus groups. Four main themes emerged in the study.

HIV risk perceptions among adolescents attending family planning clinics: an integrated perspective.

Abstract The current study assessed the impact of individual, interpersonal, and contextual factors on HIV risk perception. A total of 426 female adolescents attending family planning clinics took part in this study. The majority, 60.

Students' experiences and perceived benefits of a sex education curriculum: a qualitative analysis.

A qualitative evaluation explored the experiences and perceived benefits of students who participated in an abstinence-plus sex education program at enrollment and conclusion. The sample included 1130 inner-city high school students, 73.7% of whom were Hispanic.

Ethnicity as a factor in reproductive health care utilization among males attending family planning clinics.

Health care utilization of reproductive health care services among males is an emerging issue. This study examined ethnicity as a factor in reproductive health care utilization among 1,606 African American and Hispanic young males attending family planning clinics. Seventy percent were African American and 30% were Hispanic.

Evaluation of "big decisions": an abstinence-plus sexuality curriculum.

This study examines the effectiveness of Big Decisions, a sexuality curriculum developed to promote abstinence, as well as condom and contraceptive use, while overcoming school districts' concern about controversy surrounding sex education. The authors used a pre- and post-test survey design to measure changes in attitudes, self-efficacy, and behavioral intentions regarding sex, pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and condom use. The sample for this analysis included 788 inner-city 9th-grade students, the majority of which (78.

Mental health screening in family-planning clinics: a sexual risk-reduction opportunity.

This study examined the association between depression, risk behaviors, parental communication, and perceived barriers related to condom use among adolescents attending family-planning clinics. A total of 751 minority women participated in the study. The authors collected data on demographic characteristics, depression, risk behaviors, parental communication about sex-related topics, and perceptions about partner attitudes.

Parental communication as a protective factor in increasing condom use among minority adolescents.

The purpose of this study was to examine ethnic differences in risk behaviors among adolescents who attended family planning clinics and to evaluate the impact of parental communication regarding sexual topics on adolescent condom use. The sample for this study included 697 black and Hispanic female adolescents ranging in age from 13-22 years. Ethnic differences were found in sexually transmitted infection rates, number of sexual partners, and condom use.

Ethnic and Marital Differences in Family Structure, Risk Behaviors, and Service Requests Among Young Minority Fathers.

The purpose of this study was to examine ethnic and marital status differences in family structure, risk behaviors and service requests among African American and Hispanic adolescent fathers participating in a community-based fatherhood program. Demographic factors, risk behaviors, and service requests were gathered at program entry. The results indicated that each group demonstrated distinct patterns associated with family structure, sexual risk behaviors, substance use, and criminal behavior.

The relationship between adolescent depression and a history of sexual abuse.

The purpose of this study was to examine the occurrence of depression among adolescents attending family planning clinics, and to determine the relationship among depression, a history of sexual abuse, and other risk behaviors. The sample consisted of 279 minority females. Results of the study indicated that 40 adolescents (14.

The nature of connections: young fathers and their children.

The purpose of this study was to examine the involvement of young fathers with their children at entry to a fatherhood program and at subsequent follow-up. Thirty-eight young fathers participated in this analysis. Using open-ended questions at intake and subsequent follow-up, they were asked to describe in their own words their relationships with their children.

The impact of a history of sexual abuse on high-risk sexual behaviors among females attending alternative schools.

The goal of this study was to explore whether a history of sexual abuse is associated with high-risk sexual behaviors among female adolescents attending alternative schools in a large urban city in the southwestern United States, and to examine the role of depression and substance abuse in explaining this association. One hundred eighty-four sexually active female adolescents constituted the sample for this analysis. Forty-nine (26.

Gender differences in the consequences of a coercive sexual experience among adolescents attending alternative schools.

Of 490 middle and high school students attending alternative schools who participated in this study, 18.2% of females and 6.7% of males reported a past unwanted sexual experience.